HC Deb 10 July 1996 vol 281 cc245-6W
Mr. Tyler

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of confirmed BSE cases in England for each of the last 36 months. [33306]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 18 June 1996]: The number of confirmed BSE cases by date of confirmation in England for each of the last 36 months is:

Month/Year Cases
May 1993 2,384
June 1993 2,815
July 1993 1,876
August 1993 2,322
September 1993 2,210
October 1993 2,228
November 1993 2,762
December 1993 2,013
January 1994 1,678
February 1994 2,655
March 1994 2,754
April 1994 2,141
May 1994 1,634
June 1994 2,140
July 1994 1,223
August 1994 1,338
September 1994 1,612
October 1994 1,757
November 1994 1,642
January 1995 1,441
February 1995 1,746
March 1995 1,434
April 1995 967
May 1995 1,220
June 1995 1,098
July 1995 1,080
August 1995 894
September 1995 827
October 1995 920
November 1995 945
December 1995 655
January 1996 785
February 1996 1,000
March 1996 736
April 1996 545
Month/Year Cases
May 1996 515
June 1996 939
Total 58,023

There is a delay of around several weeks while diagnostic tests are completed, between the slaughter of BSE suspect animals and the confirmation of the case as being BSE. Procedural changes within the veterinary investigation service significantly reduced processing capacity from March to May, and the subsequent increase in June represents clearance of the backlog. A similar backlog resulting from public holidays and Christmas was cleared in February.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest date on which a BSE confirmed bovine was born. [33034]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 18 June 1996]: As at 9 July, the latest date on which a confirmed BSE bovine was born was 17 June 1993.